Read her insightful interview below:

I first realized I was interested in photography when I took my parents' film camera away on holiday and wanted to take the shots myself. A few years later, a friend of mine attended an art college where she taught photography; she shared the results of her studies, and I really enjoyed her images and the process of shooting. From that moment, I started experimenting on my own: I shot people, still life, and animals. My friend suggested new directions in photography and how it could be diversified, sharing her own experiences.

It's hard for me to describe my photographic style because I try to go beyond the topics I've mastered. I don't like it when a photographer works only in one genre and uses the same scheme developed over the years, but that's my personal opinion. I can't say that at this stage my works are very different from each other, but I guess there is a common style. But I try to add a little bit of painting to my photos.

When I first started shooting, it was a lot of experimentation, but later I discovered Julia Cameron's work. And I also had a passion for painting, so I was mostly inspired by artists, particularly the 

Pre-Raphaelites. I was inspired by the Pre-Raphaelites' paintings and made homages to their works, studied the light and the poses of the characters, and developed my own style with painterly notes.

A little later, I became interested in fashion photography, and in this field, I have my favorite photographers—Tim Walker and Paolo Roversi.

I really want to show through photography the beauty of the human soul. That's why I try to shoot people almost without make-up, unless it's a fashion shoot, but again, it all depends on the idea. I also try to add a little poetry to my models.

I have a notebook where I jot down ideas. For a certain idea, I start looking for a model, selecting a wardrobe, and selecting a location for the shoot. It can be very difficult to find a model; it can take months.

I try not to process photos too much; I like it when the skin breathes and doesn't look porcelain in a bad way. The maximum I can do in Photoshop is to remove small skin irregularities, unnecessary creases in clothes, and light color correction. 

Once, my photographer friend said that professionals do not use Photoshop at all. I've kept that phrase in my head for years and try not to overdo the processing.

Inspiration for me lives in fiction, films, nature, people around me, paintings, and music. 

When I have a creative crisis, I try to relax and watch some beautiful films or find paintings by a new painter. I try to look at old masters in a new way.

To be honest, every project is special to me because there is preparation behind it, thinking of details, and searching for a model.

But I can mention the series with «Aphrodite,» when the model and I tried to create not just photos, but paintings. It took me a lot of time to find a good printing house, which would print the photos, and then I painted the photos with gold acrylic in the style of Gustav Klimt and Alphonse Mucha.

I try to have a little chat with the model before the shoot, while we go to the studio or a chosen location in nature. Next, if the person gets anxious, I show a few exercises to ease the tension. I also put on music to match the mood of the shoot or what the model likes.

When you are a very young photographer, and even if you have some achievements in photography, you may face disrespect from models. There have been times when I've seen a certain person in a shoot I had in mind, and they didn't want to be a part of it. But fortunately, these cases were few and far between.

It seems to me that when a photographer is burning with love for his work, the images turn out to be catchy. 

I think that when a photographer is passionate about what he or she is doing, the images are captivating.

I try to watch photography news on YouTube and read articles. But in general, I follow fashion and fashion photography more than anything else.

I think to develop your own style, you need to take a lot of photos and be inspired by the work of photographers you like. Learn from famous photographers, not just by copying their style. You should also study areas related to photography; it will help you broaden your horizons and understand how to frame a shot and then come to your own style.

I have a few projects with a fashion designer that I'd like to realize soon. We're talking now about the idea of shooting a new collection.

This is a confirmation that the shots resonated in people's hearts and conveyed emotions, moments, and atmosphere. It is the result of hours of searching for light, angle, and mood. It is an inspiration to move on, to shoot deeper, to look wider.

For me, it is a sign that he is on the right path. And this is just the beginning. Thank you so much, OTS Magazine, for this opportunity to share my story with your audience.

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Keep up with Liliia Beda's work via her social links:

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